Repulsion relay



April 2, 1935. E. H. AYERS 1,996,606

REPULSION RELAY Filed Feb. 17, 1954 l nventor: Edgar H. Agers,

His Attorney.

Patented Apr. 2,1935

PATENT OFFICE REPULSION RELAY Edgar H. Ayers, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 17, 1934, Serial No; 711,816

9 Claims.

My invention relates to electroresponsive devices, more particularly to repulsion relays, and has for an object the provision of a rugged, easily adjustable relay of this type.

In repulsion relays of the type described and claimed in an application entitled Repulsion relay, Serial No. 711,666 filed February 17, 1934, L. W. Thompson, and assigned tov the same assignee as the present inventionfthe adjustment of the relay is accomplished by bending the bracket which supports the armature, and while the adjusting means of the Thompson device is entirely operative something is yet to be desired in-improving its construction and decreasing its cost of manufacture.

In carrying out my invention in one form thereof, I provide a bracket for the support of the armature, the bracket extending below the armature and in parallel relation therewith so as to minimize the strains on the bracket incident to the adjustment of the armature. I further, provide means for holding the operatingcoil of the relay on the magnet frame by cupping somewhat an outer lamination of the center pole of the magnetic frame.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should now be had to the accompanying drawing wherein I have shown in Fig. 1 a plan view of a relay embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a. sectional elevation taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the relay mechanism removed from the supporting base; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the supporting bracket provided for the movable armature, while Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the magnet frame.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown my invention in one form as applied to a relay III mounted on an insulating base H. The relay comprises a three pole or E-shaped magnetic frame l2 provided with an operating coil l4 around the center pole l5 and an armature or single turn coil l8 supported by a spring member 30 and a bracket or cantilever support 20 wider at its lower end than at its upper end. The center pole I5 is provided'with extensions Mia and I5?) which form in conjunction with extensions 2k: and 2lb, provided respectively on the outer poles 2| and 22 of the magnetic frame, restricted air gaps 24 and 25. The armature l8 has an opening at one end slightly larger than the center pole IS, the walls of the opening forming a short-clrcuited coil. ,The single turn armature coil I8 is provided with two legs 26 and 28 to which are secured a spring 30 provided with a slot 3| and an extension 32 which supports a movable contact 33. A cooperating stationary contact 34 is supported on a bracket 39 secured to the insulating base i I. The spring 36 is secured to one end 40 of the bracketili by means 5 of a plate 4i secured to the bracket by means of rivets 43. The opposite end 46 of the bracket 20 is secured to the magnetic frame l2 by means of bolts extending through the holes 41 and 63, the bolts (not shown) being arranged to screw into threaded holes provided in the magnet frame [2.

The normal and deenergized position of the armature I8 is adjacent the upper side of the coil l4 and substantially below the restricted air gaps 24 and 25. When a suflicient value of alter;- nating current flows through the operating coil M an induced current flows in the single turn coil Hi. The interaction between the magnetic fields produced by the single turn coil and the operating coil causes the armature to be moved by a repulsion force upwardly to a point where a pair of magnetizable plates 50 and 5! form a low reluctance path between the restricted air gaps. The armature therefore in moving from 9. Q5 high reluctance path to a low reluctance path operates the movable contact 33 into engagement with the stationary contact 34. The magnetic attractive forces exerted on the magnetizable plates 50 and 5| for a given coil current vary as the square of their distance from the restricted air gaps 24 and 25. Consequently even a slow increase in magnitude of coil current will cause a sudden movement or a snap action of the armature into the picked-up or closed circuit position. With a slow decrease incoil current a similar snap action of the armature from the closed to the open circuit position is obtained.

In order to adjust the relay so that it will operate with different values of current flowing through the operating coil, an elongated slot 54 is provided in the end 40 of the bracket 20, which slot provides a relatively small amount of material between the center portion of the bracket and the outer end portion 40. Consequently, 45 by using a pair of pliers or some similar tool the end portion 40 can be readily bent to predetermine the position and spring tension on the armature l8 with respect to the restricted air gaps 24 and 25. A substantial amount of force must be exerted in bending the end 40 of the bracket 20 and to resist this force, to locate the point of bending and'to minimize the tendency V to loosen the bracket or cantilever support 20 from the base, a channel is formed in the central portion of the bracket and forms on the opposite side of the bracket a ridge 55. It will further be observed that the end portion 46 of the bracket 20 has a much larger cross-sectional area than the end portion 40, the larger cross-sectional area providing additional strength for the lower end of the bracket; All of the bending accomplished by the application of the force to the end 40 of the bracket is therefore limited to the portion of the bracket adjacent the slot 54. Furthermore, the bracket 20 is located in the same vertical plane as the armature IS with its end 6 secured below the frame l2. 1

Referring to Fig. 5, it 'will be observed that the center pole I of the laminated magnetic frame I2 has one of its laminations 51 provided with serrations in the form of a pair of outwardly flaring cup-shaped portions 58 and 59, the cupshaped portions being formed adjacent the lower end of the center pole I5. These cup-shaped or outwardly extending portions cooperate with an insulating spool 60 upon which the turns of the coil M are wound. The dimensions of the spool are such that when the coil I4 is placed over the center pole l5 and is pressed, downwardly thereon, the cup-shaped portions 58 and 59 are forced into intimate engagement with the inner wall of the spool. Preferably the spool 80 is formed of fiber so that when the fiber spool is pressed on the cup-shaped portions the outer edge of each cup-shaped portion cuts'a groove into the fiber thereby preventing turning of the coil or any vibratory movement thereof.

The'relay I [has I have stated, is mounted on the base II and as shown in Fig. 2 a cover 62 is arranged to completely enclose the relay. A single screw 63 positively holds the cover in place by reason of the fact that on one side of the cover an inwardly extending nub 65 is provided which cooperates with a depression 66 moulded in the insulating base II. In placing the cover in position on the base H, the nub 65 is first placed in the depression 66 and the cover swung to the position shown in Fig. 2. The screw 63 extending through a hole in the cover is then screwed into the base H.

While I have shown a' particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course,

that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such'modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a repulsion relay provided with a stationary magnetic frame, an exciting coil for said frame, an armature, and means for supporting said armature in cooperative relation with said magnetic frame comprising a cantilever support extending from said magnetic frame in the same vertical plane as said armature to a position in the same horizontal plane as said armaturer f 2. In combination, a repulsion relay psovided with a stationary magnetic frame, an exciting coil for said frame, an armature provided with a short-circuited coil, means for supporting said armature in cooperative relation "with said magnetic frame comprising a cantilever support extending from a position adjacent said magnetic frame along the same vertical plane as said armature, and resilient means for securing said armature to the end of said cantilever support remote from said frame.

3. In combination, a repulsion relay provided with a stationary magnetic frame, an exciting coil for said frame, an armature provided with a short-circuited coil, means for supporting said armature in cooperative relation with said magnetic frame comprising a cantilever support extending from a position adjacent said magnetic frame and in the same vertical plane as said armature, and resilient means for securing said armature to the end of said cantilever support remote from said frame, said end of said cantilever support being provided with a slot for permitting and localizing the bending of said end of said support whereby said armature can be adjusted with respect to said magnetic frame.

4. In combination, a repulsion relay provided with a stationary magnetic frame, an exciting coil for said frame, an armature. provided with a short-circuited coil, means for supporting said armature in cooperative relation with said magnetic frame comprising a cantilever support extending from a position adjacent to and below said magnetic frame and in the same vertical plane as saidarmature, and resilient means for securing said armature to the upper end of said cantilever support, said cantilever support being provided with a ridge extending substantially from the end of said bar adjacent said magnetic frame to substantially said upper end of said support, said upper end of said support being provided with a transverse slot whereby said upper end of said support can be bent to any desired position, said support being wider at the lower end than at the upper end.

5. An alternating current repulsion relay comprising a stationary magnetic frame, an armature provided with a short-circuited coil, a cantilever support for said armature having one end secured adjacent said magnetic frame and the opposite and extending upwardly in the same vertical plane as said armature occupies, an exciting coil for said relay, and means for securing said relay on said frame comprising a pair of cup-shaped portions formed on said frame, the inner portion of said coil being arranged to cooperate with said cup-shaped portions to lock the same in place.

6. Analternating current repulsion relay comprising a stationary magnetic frame, an armature provided'with a short-circuited coil, a cantilever support for said armature having one and secured adjacent said magnetic frame and the opposite end extending upwardly in the same vertical plane as said armature occupies, an exciting coil for said relay having an insulated support, said magnet being provided with serrations extending slightly beyond the inner walls of said support so that when said coil is forced over said serrations it'is locked firmly in place by the deformation of said support by said serrations.

7.. An alternating current repulsion relay provided with-a laminated magnetic frame, one of said laminations being provided with outwardly extending portions, an operating coil for said relay provided with a spool of insulating material, the inner dimensions of said spool being slightly less thanthe dimensions of said frame whereby said outwardly extending portions are arranged to be pressed into intimate engagementwith said spool to locksaid coil on said frame.

8. An, altemating' current repulsion relay, a laminated magnetic frame therefor provided with three poles, a pair of cup-shaped portions provided in one of the outer laminations of the middle pole of said frame and adjacent the base of said frame. an operating coil for said relay being magnetic frame therefor provided with poles, an operating coil for said relay provided with a spool of insulating material surrounding one of said poles. said one of said poles being provided with an outwardly extending portion arranged to engage said spool to lock said coil onsaid pole when said coil and spool are pressed onto said pole.

mean 1:. arms. 

